Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 3:10-12.
“Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.” Exodus 3:10-12.
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Notice the following very different two signs. Notice the very different nature of the signs. Notice the very different timing of the signs. To help meditate on today’s Scripture, ask yourself which sign you would prefer if you were Moses.
In today’s Scripture, we read of the first sign. The sign was by nature a confirmation: Moses would “worship God at this mountain.” The timing of the sign was that it would occur much later. The sign would occur after Moses had brought Israel out of Egypt. Only then, Moses would receive the sign of confirmation that God was with him and that it was God Who had brought Israel out of Egypt.
In sharp contrast, in the next chapter of Exodus, we read of the second sign when Moses likewise questioned God later. The sign was that God changed Moses’ staff into a serpent and then changed the serpent back to Moses’ staff. The timing of the sign was that it occurred immediately after Moses questioned God. See Exodus 4:1-5. Wow! This seems like a much better sign!!
The first lesson is for us to appreciate the signs that God more often gives us. Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.
Article 12. The elect in due time, though in various degrees and in different measures, attain the assurance of this their eternal and unchangeable election, not by inquisitively prying into the secret and deep things of God, but by observing in themselves with a spiritual joy and holy pleasure, the infallible fruits of election pointed out in the Word of God – such as a true faith in Christ, filial fear, a godly sorrow for sin, a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, etc.
“How lovely are Your dwelling places,
O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Psalm 84:1-2.
But, there is much more!
God confirms His presence with us and His work within us by Christ dwelling in us so that we can worship God as He desires.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in checking off all the boxes of how we should worship God that we do not sufficiently consider what is most important.
Yes, we should worship God in truth, but first, we can only worship God if He puts us in Christ. “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, … so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31. And, it is God’s Spirit Who guides us into all the truth. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; …” John 16:13.
“The woman *said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus *said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman *said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” John 4:19-26.
“for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,” Philippians 3:3.
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” 1 Peter 2:8-9.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. …” Ephesians 1:3-4.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 